New Delhi: After half a century it was replaced by wheat flour, millet flour bound to happen Re-introduced into the diet of army personnel. three types , Bajra, Jowar and Ragi , Now it will be part of their ration.
Special emphasis has been laid on including bajra items and namkeens in the food of soldiers posted on the borders with China.
A statement issued by the Army on Wednesday said, “With a view to promote the consumption of millets in the light of the United Nations declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Indian Army has introduced millet flour in the ration of soldiers.” “
Until 1966, the army’s ration consisted of bajra and jowar, which were passed off as wheat After the shortage, the availability of flour in the country stabilized.
Government approval has been sought for procurement of bajra flour not exceeding 25 per cent of the authorized entitlement of cereals (rice and wheat flour) in rations for soldiers from the year 2023-24, according to the army statement.
At present, each soldier is entitled to a daily ration of 620 grams of rice or flour. So now 25 per cent of 620 grams will be millet, sources in the defense establishment told ThePrint.
Millet food items are being offered through dedicated corners being set up in CSD (Canteen Stores Department) canteens of the Army as well as in shopping complexes within cantonments. The force has also issued an advisory for millets, which are extensively used in programmes, large kitchens and home cooking.
Centralized training of cooks is being conducted to prepare nutritious, palatable and wholesome millet dishes, the Army said. Millets have the advantage of being a good source of protein, micronutrients and phyto-chemicals, thus contributing to a soldier’s diet Boosts nutritional profile of ,
The central government is emphasizing on the increasing use of millets. A team from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute is using An age old Indian technique of making millet flour soft, long lasting and offering it as a substitute for wheat and rice flour.
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Purchase and supplies will be millet based soldiers’ choice and quantity demanded,
Bajra, Jowar and Ragi will be supplied to the soldiers keeping in view the priority. According to the statement of the army
asked how are the soldiers on the ground will choose What they want to eat, given that the units do community cooking, will be decided by the mess committee, sources said.
“The mess committee has representation from all ranks of a particular unit and decides the menu, which is changed every week. That’s why they will decide which dish of millet to eat on which day apart from wheat flour and rice.
The Army said the move would ensure that troops are supplied with indigenous and traditional cereals after half a century, when these were discontinued in favor of wheat flour.
,Traditional millet foods with proven health benefits and lifestyle adapted to our geographical and climatic conditions will go a long way in reducing diseases and increasing the satisfaction and morale of the soldiers., It states that millet will now form an integral part of the daily diet of all ranks.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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